Watertight junction box

• US 4,623,753 A
• Filed: 10/31/1983
• Issued: 11/18/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AMP Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: AMP Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Feldman, Steven, Yeager, Marvin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grimley, Arthur T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TONE, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US06/546,792
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 174/52 S, 174/52 R, 174/65 R, 174/53, 174/57, 174/58, 174/59, 174/50, 220/3.2-3.7, 220/228, 220/354, 220/3.8
• US Class Current: 174/50
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2416 the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2483 penetrating the area under the screw tip
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0658 with means constricting the conductor-insulation H02G3/065, H02G3/0675, H02G3/0683 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/088 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/34 comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/00 Casings, cabinets or drawers for electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A watertight enclosure for use in an outdoor junction box for use in housing electrical connections such as solar panel installations includes a mating base and cover. The base is bounded by an upstanding peripheral wall having a channel profiled in the top. The mating cover has an outwardly facing channel formed by upper and lower peripheral parallel flanges. The lower flange on the cover fits into the channel in the box member and the upper flange overlaps the outer wall leaving a slight gap providing the only opening to the otherwise enclosed duct about the periphery of the assembly. Wires passing through bores in the upstanding wall are sealed by compressing elastomeric spheres which bore into conformity with the wires passing therethrough.

Claims

1. A rain tight enclosure which comprises:

a first closure member having a first circumferential channel opening in one direction, said first channel being defined by an inner wall, an outer wall, and a floor therebetween;

a second closure member having a second circumferential channel opening outward, said second channel being defined by a first flange, a bottom wall extending downwardly from said first flange, and a second flange, contiguous with said bottom wall, substantially parallel to said first flange, said second channel being profiled to be received in said first channel when said second closure member is placed over said first closure member, the intersection of the first and second channels forming a peripherally extending duct about an interior of said enclosure.

2. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein when the second closure member is placed over the first closure member, the second flange of the second closure member is disposed adjacent to the floor of the first closure member.

3. The enclosure of claim 2 wherein when the second closure member is placed over the first closure member, the bottom wall of the second closure member is disposed adjacent to the inner wall of the first closure member.

4. The enclosure of claim 3 wherein the intersection of the inner wall and the floor forms an inner radius.

5. The enclosure of claim 4 wherein the intersection of the bottomwall and the second flange forms an outer radius.

6. The enclosure of claim 5 wherein when the second closure member is placed over the first closure member, the outer radius of the second closure member is disposed adjacent the inner radius of the first closure member.

7. The enclosure of claim 6 wherein a gap exists between the first and second closure members at the location of the intersection of the inner and outer radii.

8. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein a distal tip on the outer wall of the first closure member is substantially planar to the first flange on the second closure member.

9. The enclosure of claim 8 wherein when the second closure member is placed over the first closure member, the distal tip on the inner wall abuts the first flange on the second closure member.

10. The enclosure of claim 9 wherein the distance between the first flange of the second closure member and the distal tip of the outer wall of the first closure member forms a peripheral opening in communication with the peripherally extending duct.

11. The enclosure of claim 10 wherein the opening is dimensioned to inhibit direct influx of rain water.

12. The enclosure of claim 10 wherein the opening is large enough to allow water to drip out of the duct when the enclosure is inverted.

13. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein the inner wall of said first channel is higher upstanding than the outer wall of said first channel.